Tag: existing

Holiday's are here! To support the cause of avoiding ditching healthy me-time, play-time, and we-time we're dishing eighteen tips to be remarkably resilient. RAINY DAYS MAKES WAY FOR INDOOR PLAY Who said it has to be sunny to move and shake over the holiday? Holidays aren't an every day thing so be inventive. Turn up the music, look at your furniture with beginners mind, and let the laughter begin! If being indoors makes you want to eat more check this out to undo that mode of operation. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="564"] Free yourself to jump on the bed or couch. Every so often isn't going to break the frame.[/caption] WORK MAY BE FAMILY TIME Maybe its siblings or perhaps a foe but seeing that person an opportunity to put on…

Performance is effected by the unavoidable and planned major life events. A two year study of 2,106 people identified the birth of a first child caused the most significant impact on wellbeing. The events following included divorce, unemployment, and death of a spouse. Chronic stress is reported to effect the immune system and ultimately a person's quality of life. Major life events challenge the ability to be resilient, grounded, and self-aware. Suicide is so common amongst Japanese and Korean employees that it's listed as a work-related condition for compensation. Spirituality is a performance behavior because it intersects life meaning and the ability to engage in activities. Researchers who searched the term and methodology of spirituality revealed three themes: avenues, experience, and meaning. AVENUES TO AND THROUGH SPIRITUALITY This theme includes coping through…

It is often suggested to avoid discussions about spirituality, yet this behavior offers numerous performance resources. Medical professionals openly ask questions about spiritual behaviors to energize performance outcomes. Pain, stress, and trauma effect mental and physical health. Jay Mahler is the founder of The California Mental Health and Spirituality Initiative. His purview of spiritual performance is "the experience of 'madness' can include a profound experience of connection and spirituality; oneness with nature; and the meaning and purpose of life," A few of the most common questions that revolve around spiritual behaviors include: "Why me?" "Have I done something wrong to cause this to happen to me?" "Can I still rely on myself?" "What will the future hold for me?" Fear's most common outcomes are withdrawal and ignorance. The University of Cambridge argue spiritual…

GIG Design's team discussed observations of a seamstress exhibiting stress in the workplace. Observations of the work environment included details of the lighting, noise, temperature, and peer engagement. The work space is an open area of approximately thirty seamstresses, all sitting at a sewing station actively engaging in production of a product. Observations of the seamstress were noted to be signs of distress as exhibited by facial expressions, frequent posturing with head tilted into hand through elbow support, uncharacteristic pauses of production. Following a lifestyle profile and sensory assessment she identified as under-responsive to sensations. Hyposensitivities This form of regulating the nervous system is categorized by muted, delayed responses, and low sensory registration. This individual passively regulates their nervous system, has a high threshold to sensory stimuli, and passively reacts to sensations.…

People spend a great deal of time in front of a television, computer, and cell phones. I’ve been cutting down on the usage of technology for the last few weeks, but find myself craving to use my smartphone. When it was unavailable for 2 weeks something felt like it was missing. Land line phones, emails and others smartphones allowed me to go about my everyday life. Rarely did I complain. It was odd that people I see daily questioned when I would get my smartphone back. It was also an inconvenience for those frequent smartphone correspondents. Not knowing what time I’d be home for dinner, whether the dog had been walked, or to plan for activities required more organization. A plan was necessary for those moments we were out of touch…

There is a jolting difference in cultural motivation on 'sick care' and 'health care'. Sick care is reactionary, providing individuals support with onset of an injury, health or mental conditions. Sick care recipients pay for medical bills instead of luxuries. Their employers pay for loss of production or new hire training. Health care recipients pay for health resources that reduce the onset of uncommunicable diseases, depression, injury. Their employers pay out bonuses and employee rewards due to improved profit. Is your employer providing sick care or health care? Move health care awareness from knowledge to action. Sharing stories on health movement builds the belief its possible. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shared several stories of national communities that acted on health care. It's understood raw data in percentages or dollar signs build…

Health Benefits manager Lisa Mrozinski at Robert W. Baird & Company said, “You may think you’re really healthy, but until you go through the process we can provide, you may not be aware that you’re pre-diabetic or have high cholesterol.” This quote was cited in the book The Grassroots Health Care Revolution by John Torinus Jr. Is there a process in place to learning the genuine health of your company? Here are 30 details on health costs John shared through his book to remind us of the integrity of providing health improvement services: United States of America health costs are 2x per capita of anywhere else in the world. Increased national health care costs then reduced money spent for education, research & development, public safety, environmental improvement, defense, personal finances, and wage…

Prosperity and safety in the workplace are necessary for best performance outcomes. Prosperity breathes comfort that survival is possible for driving competitive advantages and teamwork capabilities. It reduces presenteeism. Safe practices reduce absences and turnover. Productivity results from workplaces filled with attitudes of prosperity and safety. Employees instinctually seek feeling safe but stretching outside of comfortable practices may compromise quality of life. Experiences of prosperity through novel practices offers the ability to be vulnerable towards what appears as ambiguous. The anonymous quote, "If you're comfortable in life then you're not maturing," is true. Maturing performance standards results in employee discomfort. A workplace may reduce discomfort with B.E.I.N.G strategies resulting in employee's boldly existing in necessary growth. B.E.I.N.G. To Boldly Existing in Necessary Growth is the ability to successfully manage the…

“I used to be exhausted all the time, I would come home from work and pass out on the sofa, but not now. I am much more alert: I have much more energy for my work, and also for family life.” These are the words of Lise-Lotte Pettersson, an assistant nurse and participant in a controlled trial of shorter work hours in Sweden. The results will be published in 2016, but so far results indicate nurses are less fatigued and more efficient (Crouch, 2015). A 2014 Gallup survey of 1,200 American adults discovered that the average full time US employee works 47 hours per week and 18% work 60 hours or more (Green, 2015). The workplace is a community I'm passionate about. Work demands are conditions part of my mission. Occupational…

With setting goals a timeline and deadline is created. Estimating time accurately is a skill that begins with childhood activities including board games and getting ready for school. It may improve or weaken depending on the practice how frequently it's practiced. Skills improve with practice. The ability to make accurate estimates is closely tied to the ability to understand and solve problems. Learning to approximate activity lengths prepares for future goal setting. Poor time estimation weakens confidence because short and long-term goals are repeatedly missed. The mind processes stories with better recall then it does with time estimation. Estimating measurements is most often a mathematical skill, which improves with practice. Illusions often stand in the way. Stories may offer an illusion of time that exaggerates the effect of changing circumstances on future performance.…

Awareness determines how time is spent. Behaviors are a reflection of brain activity. Psychologist Daniel Kahneman researched this phenomenon and summarized that "even in the absence of time pressure, maintaining a coherent train of thought requires discipline." How does the brain get disciplined? Changing a busy brain with rampant, scattered thoughts towards attending to immediate surroundings, internal cues, and relational patterns is effortful work. Awareness improves intellectual behaviors. In his book Thinking Fast and Slow, Kahneman continues, "People who are cognitively busy are also more likely to make selfish choices, use sexist language, and make superficial judgments in social situations." Each of these indicate an inner-dialogue that excludes a mature sense of automatic behaviors and the act of regulating them. Awareness of natural and built environment factors, as well as body capacities…

The word "alone" can mean different things. For instance, the single business, self-employed person may work alone. Going through a morning routine, doing a crossword puzzle, or cleaning the house are all activities that may be done during alone time. Often employees would be ecstatic to have alone time in place of work time around numerous or sometimes one person. However, there are other moments when being alone can be uncomfortable or down right scary. Being alone triggers spirit-based behaviors. Performance relies on the spirit of an individual. At GIG Design spiritual behavior is one part of design sensibility. It establishes actionable behaviors within purpose-seeking and existence. Examples of spiritual behaviors are hope, resiliency, and value-based support for discovering and acting on ways to thrive. Spirituality empowers meaningfulness within performance.…

Below is a testimony 180 days following GIG Design's support... One of the reasons why I moved to the Pacific Northwest is because of the trees. Trees are everywhere - both beautiful and relatable. A tree must have been meticulously chosen for the WholeBe Toolkit. Its a visual metaphor that returns as a wellbeing tool to help one envision themselves at their greatest potential. I never thought of comparing myself as a tree. Organically, humans and plants are built so differently, but who's to say we can't learn from one another. Each gives in the exchange for being alive. One example is carbon dioxide gives fresh air to breathing plants; plants generously exchange it with oxygen for us. This is one magnificent exchange that is quick to forget. When I look…

Of course it is best to get those seven to eight hours of sleep in for the next day to run smoothly. The tricky part in achieving this is to pull away from that to-do list or mindless moments prior to bed time. To activate change the brain needs an inter-connection across the non-conscious and conscious domains (Charlesworth and Morton 2015). The body clock is one way to achieve sleep. Chronobiologists identified we have two types of body clocks. One reason getting to bed may be difficult is because your personal clock is socially directed toward your body's opposite needs (Keller and Smith 2014). This means practicing self-control when it comes to your attention and effort. To say, "I'm getting to bed early tonight," is a start, yet self-control requires physical methods to make a set bedtime…

Occupational therapy practitioners are found in a variety of industries outside of health care, including automotive, architecture and non-profit sectors. Jim Burns is a major in the U.S. Army as well as chief of O.T. at Evans Army Community Hospital in Fort Carson, Colorado. He quoted Max Depree to support his opinion of what the key aspect of leadership is: selfless service. "The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality; the last is to say ‘Thank you.’ In between the two, the leader must become a servant." Burns integrates an abridged version of the U.S. Army's leadership development philosophy in his philosophy of these seven values: Discipline, Motivation, Altruism, Physical Fitness, Continuing Education, Creativity, and being Respectful. Values emphasize behavior patterns, goal setting, and communication. Each requires an internal force or the will…

Being open to the messiness of uncertainty is often difficult. Performance behaviors are patterns, routines, and habits. With challenges a natural course of reaction is common. An issue may be some behaviors are causing breaks in relationships, purpose, and health. With time and effort behaviors may change to repair and support teamwork, productivity, and competitive advantages. Performance sharpens by accepting ambiguity. Embracing mystery will build relationships, enhance purpose, and improve skills. Sensations following feelings to what may appear as a fuzzy or messy issue are often uncomfortable. Fear or doubt causes periods of rationalizing perceived risk factors. Sociology and psychologist author Malcolm Gladwell, psychologist Daniel Kahneman, and business woman Arianna Huffington revealed how sensations effect rational. Build Relationships "Good teaching is interactive. It engages the child individually. " Gladwell coined the Stickiness…

The word abstract describes an object, is an object, or describes a feeling. Our WholeBeSM method includes abstraction to trigger Design Sensibility. The universal root + definition of abstract LATIN | ab {from} trahere {draw off} -» abstracts {drawn away} Considered separate from concrete existence Not actual but theoretical to remove to summarize in written form detached attitude or view that is intellectual and affective in form Pablo Picasso on Abstract: "There is no abstract art. You must always start with something." Abstract ideas Often an abstract idea ends once it's expressed by action. It doesn't always take form as in something to hold. Perhaps, it's an expression that's heard or seen. Abstract in life is a method to personalize creative ideas. Start by detaching form from function. Like, separating walking from legs. To exercise abstraction, repeat walking then freely…

How is the word "concrete" used in daily life? The WholeBeSM method teaches awareness builds upon understanding things grow together triggers design sensibility. The universal root + definition of Concrete LATIN | concrescere {grow together} tangible, conclusive in material as an object real, conclusive in existence as definite solid mass created from separate elements Deniel Libeskind said, "And you have to remember that I came to America as an immigrant. You know, on a ship, through the Statue of Liberty. And I saw that skyline, not just as a representation of steel and concrete and glass, but as really the substance of the American Dream." Write something. The tool you use and the material written on were once separate elements. Now they are used as a concrete method of communication. Letters of the alphabet are elements that combine…

The word "loyalty" has deep roots. "Loyalty in life" involves perception and emotion. It's similar to allegiance and includes a sense of duty. At times our behavior isn't loyal to our values. Like snapping at someone you love because you are sleep deprived or hungry. This is an example of how loyalty can waver due to poor self-regulation. Sleep is one of the first things to go as a result of job deadlines, travel or family obligations. Anxiety becomes the antagonist to lack of loyalty! GIG Design's WholeBeSM process recognizes the following six core aspects: Physical Occupational Intellectual Spiritual Social Emotional The first step is to recognize your self-regulation issues. Loyalty in life directly affects your health, your relationships, and your success. Design Sensibility is taught with our WholeBeSM Toolkits.…

Are you in the right role? Role models are excellent resources to setting measurable standards. They help identify the set of skills and experiences necessary for a specific role. Identify the roles in the following story. Which shared similar skills as the king? There is a story of a king who went to his garden one morning, only to find everything withered and dying. He asked the oak tree that stood near the gate what the trouble was. The oak said it was tired of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine tree. The pine was troubled because it could not bear grapes like the grapevine. The grapevine was determined to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and produce…

I am exploring. I imagine “exploration” to be out at sea, going into caves or walking on lands I haven't even heard of. I imagine screaming, “Ahoy captain! Take me to the closest island. I want to claim it as mine!” I'm peering through a pair of binoculars. The island that I imagine is filled with an abundance of food, a toilet and all the amenities of typical American life. That island that I imagine probably doesn’t even exist and if it does, it probably belongs to some wealthy billionaire or royal heir. I'll call these large scale explorations. I'm outgrowing my sadness as I notice my definition of exploration is a lot different from "Indiana Jones" or "Gilligan’s Island". The scale of this world seems so much smaller. Maybe that’s a…

There are workplaces with a culture expectation of work tracked by shift hours or a behavior standard to cover all tattoos. A workplace belief and custom may be whispering through cubicle workstations. These are examples of contextual elements in the workplace. Context is one of three performance factors used to improve performance outcomes. Contextual elements identify opportunities for education, employment and economic support as accepted by the culture in which one is a member. Context is one of three performance factors to divide performance into behavior-specific elements. The elements categorized as contextual include: expectations of culture, personal beliefs and customs, behavioral standards, demographics, stage of life and history, and relationship to time. Occupation and sense are the additional factors to organizing performance elements. The context factor digs into workplace policy…

Does your 'no' mean no? Does your 'yes' mean yes? Oh, I've been here. In fact, I just recovered from this. When in the throws of life, action may readily happen before time allows deep thought about the implications. Rest assured, this is normal and happens to us all. Confusion may set in, but what we choose to do in the midst of it will determine the affect on all of our core aspects. Yet, this spiritual aspect is worth nestling into. Articulate 'no' as a full gestured no and yes as 100 percent yes. In the book Boundaries the authors offer nine questions to consider. Questions to Ask: Can I set limits and still be a loving person? What are legitimate boundaries? What if someone is upset or hurt by my…

Has Hollywood identified your ideal relationship? It did me. In 1999 Santa introduced me to Sex in the City. I got the full first season on VHS and those girls had me 15 minutes into Episode One. I was hooked! Freedom and vulnerability between women is like clean air to my lungs. These dynamics in friendship is euphoric: Miranda: Why didn't I use a condom? Carrie: You didn't use a condom? Miranda: He has one ball, and I have a lazy ovary! In what twisted world does that create a baby? It's like the Special Olympics of conception. Although, setting up the 'ideal' relationship with expectations creates danger. No one is perfect. Consider an existing role within a quarrelsome friendship. Flush out all evidence of expectations of that person. What…